It all started with a bike...
It all started with a bike… that bike every kid wants. I still remember everything about that bike, from the bright vibrant colors to the fact that it was an 18 speed. It was the perfect bike for me. Unfortunately, there was no money in my pocket to buy it. Still, every week I would see it in the store window. Before too long, I decided I would do what was needed: I went out and got a paper route so that I could buy that bike.
That was the beginning of my journey to who I am today. At the age of 12, I realized that if I wanted something, I had to figure out a way to get it. From that moment on I remember being fueled by intense curiosity and a willingness to work. I have always been willing to do whatever is needed to learn more about what interests me (at the time) and that has led me to where I am today.
I have an eclectic background having worked almost anything and everything from my first paper route, to farming, landscaping, training horses, and working in a shrimp factory. After graduating I moved on to a variety of jobs related to the culinary arts from working in a meat processing facility to a variety of positions in restaurants. Eventually I took the leap into sales, leadership, franchising, and personal development. A little bit of luck, some learning on the job, and a focus on the journey rather than the destination, all led me to where I am today.
I clearly remember the day that changed my direction in life: I launched my own business, a restaurant, and failed. Now I was back to working for someone else. Instead of the culinary world where I had experience and knowledge, I was in a sales role for the first time. Not surprisingly, I was having one of those crises in life like so many others have experienced.
Becoming a Better Leader
My boss at the time, who was one of the most phenomenal entrepreneurs I’ve had the good fortune to work with, signed me up for a seminar to help me improve my sales and management skills (or so he said). Little did I know that I was about to be introduced to the world of personal development, and wow, did that change my life. Shortly after, I was thrown in the deep end when that same boss decided to send me and a few of my co-workers to London to see Anthony Robbins live…. Anyway, I digress in great memories.
After realizing that becoming a better leader and a better businessperson were directly tied to becoming a better person, I started advancing quickly within the company. Within months I was the head of sales, spearheading a team of 14 salespeople. Soon thereafter, I was put in charge of franchise development for the company. In this role, I had another amazing journey – meeting incredible people from some of the major players in the franchising world. I utilized every opportunity to learn more not only about the industry, but also the people that had great success within it.
Along the way, I worked with some major well-known international brands, as both a consultant and as part of the company I was with. These experiences led to me eventually becoming a minority owner in the franchise business. Looking back, I realize that this was an incredible learning journey that changed the entire trajectory of my life.
In fact, these experiences led me to where I am today: running my own marketing business, that has now franchised, in the US.
You may have figured out by now that I didn’t grow up in the US. I spent my childhood years in Denmark and Iceland. My working years were spent in various locations across Europe. However, after coming to the US as an exchange student, I always knew the US is where I wanted to end up. At the time, there was no way for me to permanently make that move, but I never gave up on the dream.
Working Towards The Goal
I spent years, going back and forth, doing what I needed to do, always working towards the goal of being able to permanently make the move. In 2005, I sat down with my boss from the franchise company and asked the following question: If I moved to the US, would he be willing to give me the master franchise rights for 6 states in exchange for my ownership portion in the business? He said yes and I was finally able to permanently relocate to the US.
Being broke (because I was still paying off the business that failed), I made the move. I had no money in my pocket, no guaranteed income and nothing more than a place to stay and a promise of someone to feed me. Shortly after the move, things got worse when my boss called me to let me know he was selling the business to a person I had no interest in working with. So now what?
I took another leap and went out on my own – that’s when I started RedKnight. In 2006, with no money, no credit, and no business network in the US, I launched what was then a website company. Fast forward almost a couple of decades and RedKnight is now a marketing company that has been franchised. I have also written a book, been a contributor to another two books, created a podcast, and most importantly grown my business into something I can hopefully pass on to my kids!
All these years later, I remain curious and determined to figure out a way to get things done. This tenacity, as well as my eclectic background, helps me to excel in the marketing industry; and being in the marketing industry allows me to keep learning about all kinds of industries, business types, and leadership. I’m pleased to share that I enjoy every moment of it.
As my journey continues, I look forward to both learning and sharing what I have learned along the way with others.